One oft-repeated answer to the question, ‘why do you like movies?’ is that ‘they transport you to another place and time.’ There is no more talented director in modern film more capable of doing just that then Christopher Nolan. Yes, any one who’s perused my pages before should know that I am quite the fan of his. Go see ‘The Prestige’ and you’ll know why.
First of all, he does just what I mentioned above. In the opening frames of the film, you are immediately transported into a magic show around the turn of the century (I guess I have to specify that I mean 1900 and not 2000). Every color on screen evokes just that setting. Whether or not we’re in urban London or the Rockies in Colorado, we’re there. We don’t just see the events unfold.
What I’ve also noted about Nolan flicks is the performances. Usually I can chalk it up to the existence of experienced actors. But I have to say there are several performances in the film that are far and away the best I’ve seen. First and foremost is Hugh Jackman, who usually just gets a response of “isn’t that the guy who plays wolverine?” But he genuinely portrays a genuine, anguished character wrought with revenge. Christian Bale is by no means a surprise as a good actor, but he’s as good here as he is in any other film I’ve seen (with the possible exception of Batman Begins). The same goes with Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson. Two real surprises: Piper Perabo and David Bowie. You may remember Perabo as the protagonist from ‘Coyote Ugly’, but if anyone saw the film I would hope that you would forget (yeah she was that bad). In this film, though she isn’t in it very long, is very subdued, yet real. Not what I expected. The same goes for David Bowie. He plays a dignified scientist who struggles to compete with Thomas Edison. You’d be hard-pressed to see that this is the same guy.
But walking away from the film, you think much more of the storyline, the one-upsmanship, and the lengths to which they go to do just that. Was it worth all that they did? The short answer is no. The long answer…you’ll have to see for yourself. But it’s well worth the price of admission.
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